GB1259952A - Valves for controlling flow of fluid into a container - Google Patents

Abstract

1,259,952. Bottling &c. NATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORP. 7 Feb., 1969 [9 Feb., 1968], No. 6548/68. Heading B8T. [Also in Division F2] A valve for controlling the flow of fluid into a container 31 comprises a fluid chamber 50, a telescopic arrangement consisting of a spring 28, a stationary tube 8 and a movable member 22 whose internal surface forms a sliding and sealing fit with the external surface of the tube 8, the lower end of the member 22 engaging with a valve seat 21 on a stationary stem 10. The telescopic arrangement is mounted in a valve housing 5 and can be isolated from the surrounding atmosphere by a barrier 35 movable to engage with a seal 34. In operation the container 31 is held in a position below that shown in Fig. 1 and is steam sterilized whilst the barrier 35 is engaged with the seal 34 thus isolating the telescopic arrangement from the steam. Since the area of the member 22 facing upwardly is greater than the combined areas of member 22 facing downwardly when the members 22, 10 are in engagement, the resultant pressure on the member 22 maintains the said member in engagement with the stem 10. If during the sterilization process steam enters the housing 5 the resulting increase in pressure therein will increase the force urging the members 22, 10 together. After sterilization is completed the barrier 35 is removed and the container 31 is raised to the position shown in Fig. 1. Upward continued motion of the container raises valve face 25 off the seat 21 and the fluid in tube 8 flows into the container 31. If steam enters the valve housing 5 during the sterilization process, a visual indication is provided by an indicator arrangement 36. In another embodiment, Fig. 3 (not shown), the movable member (78) includes a sealing ring (84) whose displacement above the surface (76) of the stationary member permits the entrance of cleansing fluid throughout the valve assembly.